Sofonias 3

1Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! {her...: or, gluttonous: Heb. craw}

2She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God. {correction: or, instruction}

3Her princes within her {are} roaring lions; her judges {are} evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

4Her prophets {are} light {and} treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

5The just LORD {is} in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame. {every...: Heb. morning by morning}

6I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. {towers: or, corners}

7I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, {and} corrupted all their doings.

8Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination {is} to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, {even} all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

9For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. {language: Heb. lip} {consent: Heb. shoulder}

11In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. {because...: Heb. in my holy}

12I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.

13The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make {them} afraid.

14Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

15The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, {even} the LORD, {is} in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.

16In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: {and to} Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. {slack: or, faint}

17The LORD thy God in the midst of thee {is} mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. {rest: Heb. be silent}

18I will gather {them that are} sorrowful for the solemn assembly, {who} are of thee, {to whom} the reproach of it {was} a burden. {reproach...: Heb. the burden upon it was reproach}

19Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. {get...: Heb. set them for a praise} {where...: Heb. of their shame}

20At that time will I bring you {again}, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.